Charles Finney: Grandpa - Words

  • Monday, May 3, 2021
  • Charles Finney

It was a wet spring day. Rain had been falling for over a week. The ground was soaked. The cornfield needed to be plowed, but it would only leave a muddy mess if it was. Dreary and wet day. Gray skies and low clouds. On the front porch sat Grand Pa. I asked him what he was doing? He was silent. Then he said, I am just listening to the sound of the rain. It is speaking to me. I looked puzzled. I said I hear the rain beating down on the old tin roof on the front porch.

But it's not speaking to me. I don't hear any words.

Grandpa said to drag up a chair. He swayed back and forth on the old country swing. He had some thing to tell me. He said, "I hear words every where. You do know that words are simply sounds. Some times they are understood by the ear. Sometimes it's the eye that see them as writings or pictures. Some sounds are just an utterance. Some words may be giving a direction to follow. Other words are an assurance or a promise. But no matter the method of knowing the words, they are all a signal. Some show intelligence, others show ignorance. Some are to help, others to hurt."

The greatest word I ever hear was from the old preacher who came to our cornfield church. It was from the bible. John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Grandpa told me that this meant that there was an assurance, a direction, and a promise from God. If we listen with our hearts, then we can hear and understand. God made all things, even the rain. Even now, look, the rain is only a mist, a light sprinkle. The clouds are thinning. I hear God telling me that the rain will soon be over. The worst part has past. Now with the passing rain comes the light that he has made and given to me, See the rainbow-the promise. The life of the seeds in my farm field will grow. Their harvest will bring life to me and my family with food. The crushed grape seeds would give us canola oil to light our lamps. We will give words of praise and thanksgiving to Him. We can even feed those without. Those who are in darkness and don't understand how to listen to God's word. We can feed them with food for their body and words for their soul..

Grandpa said as you go through life, many words and sounds will come at you. Starting at your birth, all babies are listen closely to the words and sounds all around them. They will begin to sort out their meanings Some are to educate. Some are to encourage. Sometimes when words are spoken with love, they are even for correction. Corinthians 13:11 - When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put awaychildishthings.

Grandpa then warned, even as a child we must be careful of the words we could hear. Cruel people will say cruel words in front of their children. Then the cycle continues until the child thinks that this is normal. Ephesians 5-6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Often people with an agenda contrary to God's will for His people will use words of propaganda to distort the Truth. It is true, misery does love company. 1 Corinthians 15-33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speakthisto your shame.

Grandpa said that for those who use words of deception and bias. they will not go unpunished. They may bend the law of man, but God is the final judge. Matthew 12- 6 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Grandpa said if we can't say something good about some one we should keep quiet. Proverbs 10-19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Grandpa said, "Now I am in my aged years, I have weathered the storms and rain of life. I have heard and seen good things and bad. Sometimes the words were spoken in a language I did not understand, But if they were spoken with a smile, I knew they were friendly and were to help me understand Since I went to the church service at the church in the cornfield and I meet Jesus, I try to speak with a smile and with brotherly love. My life's purpose is to farm. Toil the ground. Turning it from a hard place to a soft place where a harvest can be planted and grown. Turning a hard heart to a soft heart. To let all men know about Him and help them out of their ignorance and darkness and grow into the Light."

The rain stopped. Grandpa and I just sit and listen. The birds were now talking to us.

---

Charles Finney
ccfinney@yahoo.com


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